SHE'S BACK!!!!!

It was a delightful experience to drive to Chicago’s O’Hare airport Saturday night , June 6th and pick up Katherine. After a very long journey back (five flights, long layovers, and not feeling well) she arrived happily into the arms of her family.

She didn’t waste any time once home by eating dinner at Potbelly (one of her favorites!), going to a graduation party where she connected with 7 of her closest friends, and sleeping over…needless to say by Sunday afternoon she was crashing!!!

One girl down, one to go!

Deanna arrived safe and sound this morning! Her flights went well, and she wasn't sprayed with any disinfectant spray when she arrived in Chicago's O'Hare airport (like she was going into Bali two weeks ago).

She was tired, but excited to be home...adrenaline carried her through the day as she unpacked and settled back in to life. We had dinner at Christy's and looked at the pictures she had taken.


The picture on this post is of K and D in Bali.


Katherine unfortunately got sick the last few days and was running a very high temperature! Right now she appears to be OK and will be able to travel home. But please do pray for her safe arrival back to us!

Deanna headed home

Deanna is boarding plane right now (8 AM Wheaton time...11 PM Bali time) and heading home!!! Yahoo!!! We've been out of communication since she went to Bali as her Internet access was limited (non-existent).

She will arrive in Chicago Thursday morning at 9:30 AM where I'll be glad to pick her up and bring to a clean house and fridge stocked with food (or so every women keeps telling me to do).


Katherine has a few more days in Bali with the Wisley family and will return to us on Saturday, June 6th.
(together again soon :-) )

Desipite the Cockroaches...

Katherine's graduation Thursday night was really nice. I'm so glad that I came. What a great group of kids.

The Senior boys sang two specials - the 2nd was a surprise to the girls of the class. I hope somebody video taped it. I took pictures but there were so many others with better cameras that I think we should have plenty to choose from eventually. I wore out before the reception was over and Clive Grey caught it on camera - I don’t know maybe he has already posted it - stinker!

We ended up not getting to inside beach today - just too much to do around here. I think I've been a big help to D and T by doing mundane jobs of sorting and labeling - just fine by me. Katherine, Zoe, Elisa and I went to the “pashir” (market) today - cool. Then we met 3 other girls and went up to the cross and hung out for awhile .Fun to be with them and to see the view and know what Katherine is talking about when she makes reference to it. Tomorrow we will hike up to the waterfall.

I've had a couple little experiences with some rather large roaches. One on the floor when I woke up, just 2 feet away from my mattress which was also on the floor - probably at least 2 inches. Another in the linens I was sorting through, just as big. Both went scurrying.

Mommys Arrived

When Katherine left for HIS for her final semester of high school, it was with the understanding that she would be graduating and ending her year without any family to see her receive her diploma. It was the price she was willing to pay to return and be a part of this special community.

Our hearts were desirous of Deanna to be able to go out and visit but the price of the flight was so expensive that we just couldn't justify her going. I tracked the flights and low and behold one day JAL had a huge sale and it didn't take us long to say, "let's go for it!"


So yesterday morning Deanna departed Chicago on a trip that would involve four flights and a total of 23 hours of flying. A quick stop in Narita, Japan and then on to Bali where she'd wait almost four hours for her next two flights. The first to Timiko, Papua and then on to Sentani.


Her JAL flight was interesting with flight attendants wearing face masks for fear of catching Swine flu. Between their accents and talking through a thick face mask it made it difficult to understand.


She landed safely Monday morning (Papua time) and was greeted by Katherine who came out on to the runway and met the plane! Yeah, never mind security keeping people inside the terminal building to wait for the arriving guests!


Deanna went to the school, where the kids were in the midst of finals. One by one the kids came to meet Deanna, who Katherine has been telling people about ever since she learned of her mothers coming. I chatted with her on Facebook but had to wait five minutes between questions as kids kept coming in and talking to her.


Deanna only had four hours of sleep in the last 36 hours before arriving! But she'll be up the remainder of the day getting settled in, having lunch with the kids, handing out all the gifts she brought for the kids and families.

Back from Bali

Well I'm back and the trip was really really fun! We had a buffet breakfast and everyday I got an omelet which was wonderful! We had a couple beach days, and shopping days (which weren't so much fun when I ran out of money) ha ha. Some of the girls and I found a really cute little Greek restaurant where we ate a lot of our lunches. Other than having breakfast and devotions together in the mornings we were on our own during the day to do whatever we wanted. Every night for dinner we were together also.
We went to tons of different cool places! Most days were free but one day we went to a place called Waterboom (a waterpark). That was really fun! We were running around all day running up stairs and then going down rides! so fun! I was exhausted by like 1:00 though.
Another day we went to this place called Ubud. There a Hindu temple that we went to and lots of shopping!!! That was super fun! (dad-we went here before, and it was cool because I remembered some of the shops).
Anyways so it was just a really good time. A lot of fun, and memories, and our class had some good bonding/closure time! The night before we left we sat in a circle on the beach and talked. And that was really good becasue we were honest with each other about how we had been hurt by certain things, and blah blah. But it was really good! So thanks for praying for unity (those of you who did), but I could definitely feel it!
I love you all tons! I'm ready to move on with high school and be back with you all this summer!

Senior Trip

I remember when I graduated form High School our class went to the Pocono Mountains in PA for the weekend. Most schools today don't even take class trips. Sometimes smaller schools will go to an amusement park if they're lucky.

So with this in mind I'm thinking about Katherine's senior trip. Where do 23 seniors go when you live in the back-waters of Indonesia? where else, but BALI...yes, that tropical island where the rich and famous jet off to for long retreats and to escape the paparazzi.

The class flew to Bali Friday morning and have a full week planned. Amongst the activities will be days at the beach, shopping, a spa day, going to a water park, visiting a temple, sight seeing, eating dinners on the beach, and (goes without saying) lots of laughing-talking-enjoying!!!

Two years ago when I went to pick up Katherine at the end of her Sophmore year we spent a few days in Bali and had a blast. I know first hand what a great place this is and can only imagine how much fun the class will have while they are there. The picture is of Katherine hamming it up when we were there.

What a great way to celebrate the end of High School!